[Daf]

I sometimes have nil sleep nights where I don’t get a wink.

In the day, the next day I feel very depressed, anxious and nauseous. no appetite at all. Life feels very black. It is a struggle to work at all.

What is it like for others please? Please let me know.

Then if I get sleep next night, (as I nearly always do) I feel back fine again next day.

 

[Martin Reed]

There can be no doubt that getting through the day after getting absolutely no sleep is tough. Unsurprisingly, in your case, you find that sleep drive becomes so strong that you will usually sleep fine the next night and then have a better day.

Although I can’t make those days following zero sleep any better, have you tried reframing your thoughts during the day so you dwell less on how hard it is to get through your work and instead think more about how likely it is you will sleep that night?

In addition, what steps are you taking to make those nights of no sleep less common?

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[Daf]

Thanks Martin,

Yes, I always seem to sleep OK the night after a nil sleep night, which is good, as I see there are some poor people who don’t even get that!

Yes, I have tried re-framing thoughts. Trying to keep busy too. Re the thoughts, yes,  as soon as I get a negative thought…. e.g. “I may not sleep tonight too”, I try to counter with a positive one, e.g. “Well that has never happened and is almost totally unlikely”

At night I am trying to follow what you said….”If you cant sleep, just relax, rest and see what happens” Also, being just accepting of it (mindful)….as well as trying to do SRT and SCT. I do it all in an effort to reduce anxiety about not sleeping.

I think these help a bit. I get less anxious at night, but still these episodes of nil sleep nights come….

Its just annoying!

[aquarius740]

i get anxious and nauseous, too, but i’m learning that the nil-sleep nights are generally a product of me trying too hard to force myself to sleep, i.e. tossing and turning and worrying in bed all night. i’m also learning that the next-day anxiety is 100% normal and not anything to do with me individually (i was pretty worried about that, which just made me more anxious). so now when i’m in bed and feel myself getting frustrated, i’ll go downstairs and work on a craft project for a while, then go back upstairs and fall asleep for a few hours. it’s not a perfect night but definitely an improvement over tossing and turning. i used to try reading but that’s not as relaxing as doing something productive with my hands. maybe crafts aren’t your thing but i’m sure there’s something manual and creative that you can do to help relax your brain.

also, i have to remind myself that i’ve always had tough nights and always will have tough nights, and i generally do okay the next day. i’ve also started telling myself, “whatever happens, happens.” there’s so much that’s out of our control (including sleep) so sometimes it’s easier to just accept it instead of trying to fight it.

[Daf]

“…..“whatever happens, happens.” there’s so much that’s out of our control (including sleep) so sometimes it’s easier to just accept it instead of trying to fight it.”

That is very nice advice. Thank you. It made me feel better.

[Davy]

a day without sleep I end up nervous and alert in a kind of euphoria I become nauseous on the second day and fever almost the third day, it is as if I have the flu a night without sleep has become almost a habit

• This reply was modified 5 years, 2 months ago by Davy.

[Daf]

Hi Davy, Do you go three days / nights with no sleep at all?

[aquarius740]

you’re welcome 🙂

[Davy]

yes daf i have episodes of three days with zero sleep my record was close to four days then you become almost suicidal fortunately this does not happen often  let’s say so once a month but to skip a day is no exceptions for the rest an average of 3 maximum 4 hours and  interrupted

[Daf]

Thanks Davy,

You must raise your eyebrows when you read some people who write that they are worried about lack of sleep, because they “only” get 4 or 5 hours a night.

Clearly, it’s all relative.

On the only times it looks like I’m facing a second consecutive night of nil sleep, I have to say I will reach for the Zopilcone. Don’t like to take regularly, but hey. when I feel v desperate and low in the middle of the night, I just think, why not?

 

[Davy]

the same here but I do not live in America and our pharmasutical rules are stricter I can no longer say which sleeping pills I have already tried does not work but now I take zyprexa is not really a sleeping pill but it blocks your dopamine in the brain you are going to feel numb and you think less and that sometimes works. I do not take this too constantly. I do not want to be a junkie  often it seems our last option

[Daf]

I agree with yuo too. I only take it if it looks like I’m facing consecutive nil-sleep nights

Will look up that drug.

Here in the UK they are reluctant to dish out sleeping pills too

[Christine]

I feel weepy and irritable. I also tend to isolate. I am a homemaker so this is possible to do. I go through periods of good sleep and periods of tough sleep. Prayers for us all. ?

[delv-x]

Prayers for us to feel and sleep better. On bad nights the next day I am definitely more anxious, irritable, stressed and depressed. Makes the day harder. The catch 22 is Ill feel tired but not sleepy and if I decide to lay down I can rest for 15 minutes but not sleep (rarely)

[delv-x]

Oh and forgot to mention more worried about everything.

When I sleep well then all of the above is minimal.

[Author]

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